Storage plant to preserve by nature



May 17, i927. 1,629,392

J. B. KILLION STORAGE PLANT To PRESERVE BY NATURE Filed Feb.19. 1926 2`Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JQMEEQLLQED KILLION TTORNEY l 1,629,392 May 17 1927' J. B. KILLION STORAGE PLANT TO PRESERVE BY NATURE Filed Feb. 19. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR r-:IBQLmED KILLION TTORNEY ing over the channels 7 and 8A Renu'ivable tloor sections 2li are provided directly over the longitudinal channel 7, along thruout the full length of said walk way and being adapted to be normally removed by the hand grasp depressions serve to give access to the tile of the strands E) and 10, as well as the floor l, and ysaid channels for cleaning and other purposes.

On each side ot said walk way are placed the potato bins 26, by which arrangement the studs 2O serve to support the longitudinal walls 27 ot said bins in conventional manner.

The flooring directly under said bins is constructed of the closely arranged slats 28 which have slight air gaps 29 between same. By this arrangement a natural draft action causes air and moisture to normally rise up thru said bins, the purpose ot' which will be more clearly understood.

A transversely arranged walk way 30 is also provided to cross said longitudinal wall; way at a medial point ot the structure, said transverse walk way extending from the interior of the structure thru the inner door way 3l and thence to the steps 82, which lead upwardly to the exterior landing 83, at which is conveniently provided the old style reclining cellar outer door 34.

Removable end boards are provided in the potato bins 26 on both sides ot the transverse wallt way 30, as will be more clearly understood, by which arrangement one may walk up into said bins from the inner ends thereof, for cleaning and placing potatoes 36 therein, as desired.

The concrete walls 2, 3, d and 5, the concrete floor l and the concrete root wall 6, all have rough untroweled surfaces and are of suitable thickness and quality to slowly filter moisture from the surrounding earth 37 to the interior ot the structure. This ordinarily supplies the inside atmosphere with proper moisture to prevent the potatoes 36 .trom becoming dry, and thus trom reaching the state of old potatoes. Said surrounding earth ordinarily keeps the interior warm during normal winter months and thus prevents a condition ot temperature which would cause the potatoes to sprout or ferment. ln warmer months, this earth also protects the interior from sun warmth which would be destructive by causing the potatoes to sprout or decay or both.

The inner door 38 and the outer door 34 together normally prevent light or outside temperature from entering the interior, said inner door being a substantially air tight closure of refrigerator type.

Foul or old air may be liberated as needed by opening said doors for very short periods ot time, although the cap 89 of the ventilator pipe et() may be removed tor this ur Dose when desired said ventilator ai e the outer atmosphere thru the root wall 6, and the adjacent earth, in chimney manner. Said ventilator is more especially used, however, to liberate fumes from heating means, such as an oil stove 4:1 or the like, as used to assist in warming the interior in exceedingly coldl climates, such as experienced in the State of Montana, where there is seldom any thawing weather thruout the winter season.

A shutter 4t2 is provided to be normally kept between two adjacent tiles of the tributary strand 10. During the warmer winter weather, as would occur for example in the tate ot Indiana, this shutter is withdrawn a short time during the night, thru which cooldew or frost laden air enters the interior thru the protruding tile gt3 on the strand 10. Under ordinary conditions however, the shutter Ll2 is always in closed position during the day to prevent the dry or sun` warmed air from entering the interior of the structure.

In admitting air as above mentioned thru the tributary strand l0, the wind might not be blowing in a direction to torce or allow Vair to enter the protruding tile 43, and having this in mind, I have provided a box like inclosure la for said protruding tile. This structure has doors ,t5 on the diiierent sides and it Vwill be advantageous to open whichever one of these doors that would open against the wind current. This will greatly stimulate the movement ot fresh air into the interior. lt is understood, however, that any other means ot forcing air in thru the tributary tile strand 10 may be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

Dry weather or'other conditions may at times cause the inside atmosphere to become so dry as to cause the potatoes to dry out, due to the lack ot' moisture in the surroundingl earth 37 and moisture is then supplied by removing the cap 17 from the vertical tile strand 1G and pouring a small amountot water in same, said `cap beingV immediately closed again. The water which is thus supplied runs along` thru the longitudinal tile strand V9, which eing only loosely arranged permits water to run along in the torresponiiling channel 7.

ln any event moisture admitted thru either the vertical tile strand 1G or the tributary strand. l0, by means of the protruding tile 43. as above described, is gradually absorbed by the interior atmosphere and passes up between the slats 28 and thence upwardly thru the potatoes 36, keeping same alwaysA provided with fresh air of suitable moisture to prevent the skins ot the potatoes from becoming tough and dry, and from consequently assuming an old potato flavor and texture. V57 here potatoes are dug and stored in the ordinary manner, the skins beginto lili:

i l Y v dry andget tough and the potato consequently loses its vnew potato flavor and tender qualities. This is the real and only distinguishing peculiarity between. .new and old potatoes, as commercially classified.

Tn using invention the potatoes are preferably dug' immediately after the first killingfrost of the winter season, being also the periodat which the young potatoes normally stop growing. At this period they are then dug and placed in the bins 26. `I have accurately determined, after extensive trials, that these potatoes may be kept in this natural fresh and young` state thruout the winter and into the late summer months, by properly 'controlling the conditions ot the interior of the invention, VasV above dic'- scribed, preventing either Vferineiitation, sproutine, shrinking or physical ageing oi' any kind or nature whatever.

During the extremely cold winter weather, treezingot the earth directly above the Structure imparts a cold temperature to the roof wall 6,y Considerable space 46 is there- 'fore lett between the top of the bins 26 and said root wall, so that there is always considerable space between thel potatoes and saine, by lwhich arrangement the potatoes are protected more perfectly from the injuriously cold weather temperature.

Ttwill b e yobvious that during the very warmest winter and spring days, that the sun warmth on the earth directly above the structure would also be imparted yto said .roern wall, and the air space 46 .will then protect the potatoes from destructibly warm weather.

The end walls of the` potato bins 26 are construct-ed of horizontally arranged boards 35, which stand in yvertical planes, being stacked one above the other in edge-to-edge relationship. As the bins are filled with potatoes the wall board are-added and the potatoes themselves tend tok hold the boards outwardly and lirmly in place.

Grooves 47 are provided to loosely contine the ends of they end wall boards 35, by

which arrangement they may be assembled or removed in wagon end gate manner.

About half way up the bin heightxat ditferent-places along thev longitudinal walls 2T are inserted inverted trough like members-48. These members are arranged transversely to the structure as a whole and are extended into the bins 26 in drawer inanner, thru suitable 'openings 49.. The inner ends ot'said members are support-ed over the lugs 50 or the concrete walls ,2 and 3 and the other ends are supported in the respective openings 49. Latch type closures 5l are provided to clos-e said openings, as desired.l y

When the potatoes 36 are poured down over the members 48 considerable space is leit thrnout the interior of saine, by which temperature ot th-e interior may be read, as

desired. is suggested that this temperaturebe keptv at to 50 degrees above Zero. As above mentioned, the floor sections 24 may be removed, as desired, although itis intended to have the walkway substantially air tight. In view of the tact that imperfections sometimes occur in wooden parts where the diierent pieces of floor material adjoin, T haveprovided a lino'leumcover 52 as kshown Ain Fig. 2, to run the full tloor length ,orp thelongitudinal walk way 23, covering said removabletloor sections and serving to makeV said walk way and the adjacent yflooringv more nearly airtight. .By this arrangement all the air which arises from under the wooden Hoor 18 passes up thru the air spaces 19 thence upwardly thru the potatoes, as before indicated.

As` aforementioned, considerable space 4G is lett between the ytop of the bins -26 and the roo'flwall 6. `This allows freedom ot movement of air from the potatoes as it passes thrirsaine and out of the bins, by natural draft inclination.

A small oil stove 4l or otherhe'ating means is provided for use in the colder parts of' the-.temperate Zone for supplying heat artificially', when required. The ventilator pipe 40 is provided to 'allow iinnes from such heating` means to escape, as above indicated.

Regardless of whether artilicial or natural means are used for keeping;` the inside atmosphere warm, moisture must be always provided,'as above described, to prevent the potatoes from losing theirsap thru their skins by evaporization. This is essential in view of the fact that potatoes are principally composed oit starch and-water and as sap is lost by evaporization, th-e aotatoes lose the flavor ldesiredin young potatoes.

A` portable ont door heating` means is sometimesused towarm or temper the undesirably cold air, which is to be introduced as before mentioned thru the tile strand l0. This heating` means is moved as desired, depending' upon direction of the wind, 1t4 being the object to have air which Aenters the protruding` tile 43 tol firstblow past said out door heating means in which any ordinary stove uel 54 may be used.

Moisture entering the interior ot my invention as above mentioned either thru the lid different concretewails or the vertical tile strandl gradually evaporat'es and is taken Alo up by the inside atmosphere, and a certain degree of coolness and freshness is thereby caused by this evaporation alone.

As, or before, the potatoes are placed in the bins 26, they are under most conditions sprinkled with water and then dusted with dry dirt, which clings to the wet potatoes and makes an earth coating for same. rThis assists to retain the sap within the potatoes. lVhen potatoes are dug in extren'iely dry weather, or climates, they are puddled instead by dipping in a thin mud batter.

By trials I have found that can arrest the growth of potatoes at an extremely early age. In one of these trials the doors 38 and 34@ were left slightly ajar for a few weeks until some of the potatoes sprouted and developed several tiny new potatoes, about the size of garden peas and smaller. rllhese were removed with the sprouts at the middle of the following winter, both the sprouts and these new potatoes were removed in the exact healthy premature growing state as if planted only a short time before. This demonstration proved conclusively that the status of potatoes cared for in my invention, does not change.

With the use of my invention vegetable growers may in climates such as in Indiana, grow two successive potato crops, of recognized early varieties. rlhe last crop should be planted about the last part of July or the first part of August and dug directly after the first killing frost for storing. Y

Vertical headless pins 55 protrude from the joists of the wooden floor 18, in the air spaces 19, between the slats 28, which gives them the proper spacing, and at the same time, allows them to be readily'removed for cleaning or other purposes.

The entrance walls 56 are conveniently constructed of concrete.

lVhile I have illustrated in a gen-eral way, certain instrumentalities which may be employed in carrying my invention into effect, .it is evident that' many modifications may be made in the various details and dimensions, without departing from the scope of the appended claims, it being understood that my invention is not restricted to particular forms herein described; and is usually constructed of any suitable size to permit people to walk and work in same.

l claim:

l. A potato storage comprising an earth,

envelo )ed structure haviwy a storage room fioor and an irrigating floor under same; an intern'iittently enclosed container serving to distribute water along under said storage room floor; a downwardly disposed vent conduit means communicating with said container and an upwardly disposed vent conduit above said storage room floor, cooperating with the first mentioned vent conduit means to circulate air over said water to absorb same and thus cool said storage by evaporation; and distributed openings for liberating the thus combined air and water along under said storage room floor.

2. A potato storage having a storage room fioor and an irrigating floor under same; elevated bins for the potatoes, having ventilated bottoms in conjunction withY said storage room floor thru which the atmosphere rises by natural draft action, said room floor being otherwise draft tight to concentrate the atmospheric movement thru said bottoms, an intermittently covered container serving to distribute water along under said storage room floor; a downwardly disposed vent conduit means communicating with said container; and an upwardly disposed vent conduit above said bins, cooperating with the first mentioned vent conduit means to circulate air over said water to absorb same and thus cool said storage by evaporation; and distributed openings in the upper portion of said container for discharging the thus combined air and water along under said storage floor.

3. ri potato storage having a storage room floor and an irrigating floor under same; elevated bins for the potatoes, having ventilated bottoms in conjuctions with said storage room floor thru which the atmosphere rises by natural draft action, said storage room floor bein r otherwise draft tight to concentrate the atmospheric movement thru lsaid bottoms; substantially draft tight side walls for said bins, serving to cause atmospheric movement up lthru said bins in the same manner that air passes up through' a chimney; a container serving to'distribute water along under said storage room floor; an enclosure serving to cover said container; a downwardly disposed vent conduit means communicating with said container and an upwardly disposed vent conduit above said bins. cooperating with the first mentioned vent conduit means to circulate air over said water to absorb same and thus cool said storage by evaporation; and openings in said enclosure through which the thus combined air and water is liberated and distributed alon under said storage room floor.

it. A potato storage comprising an earth enveloped structure having a storage room floor and anirrigating floor under same; elevated bins for the potatoes, having ventilated bottoms in conjuction with said storage room floor thru which the atmosphere rises by natural draft action, said storage room fioor being otherwise draft tight to concentrate the atmosphere movement thru said bottoms; and substantially draft tight side walls for said bins, serving to increase the atmospheric movement thru said bins in the same manner that a draft passes through a chimney.

5L-A potato storage comprising an earth enveloped structure having porous walls thru which moisture absorbs to the atmosphere, within the storage, elevated bins for the potatoes, having substantially draft tight side walls, and bottoms with openings thru which the moistened atmosphere rises by natural draft action, in the same manner as air rises in a chimney to prevent the potatoes thus stored from drying out; a substantially air tight tloor extending between said bins to concentrate the natural draft action thru said openings; removably inverted channels extending` thru said side walls to within said bins for inspection ot said potatoes and means to close access to said channels.

6. A potato storage having a storage floor and a soping floor undery said storage floor; loosely arranged porous tiles disposed along the lower portions ot' said slopingiloor in loose end to end relationship; a vertical conduit communicating said tiles with the eX- terior, thru which water is supplied to said tiles; a drainage conduit means also communicating with said tiles which serves to admit outside air, over said water to enrich such air with moisture, and also serve as a drainage oifvsurplus water from said channel means; eevated bins for the potatoes, having ventilated bottoms, forming a continuation to said storage floor, thru which the moisture enriched air arises by natural inclination from said tiles, said storage floor being draft tight between said bins to concentrate the nor nal upward air movement thru said bottoms; and substantially draft tight side walls for said bins, serving to cause the air movement up thru said ioors, in the manner that air rises in a chimney.

7. A potato storage having a storage floor and an irrigating floor under said storage Hoor, said irrigating floor sloping` toa channel means formed therein; loosely arranged porous tiles disposed within said channel means in loose end t-o end relationship; a vertical conduit communication between said tiles and the exterior, thru which water is supplied to said channel; a drainage conduit means also communicating with said tiles which serves to admit outside air, over said water to enrich such air with moisture, and also serve as a drainage of surplus water from said channel means; elevated bins for the potatoes having ventilated bottoms, forming a continuation to said storage floor, thru which the moisture enriched air arises by natural inclination from said tiles, said storage iioor being otherwise draft tight to concentrate the normal upward air movement thru said bottoms; and substantially draft tight side walls tor said bins, serving to increase the air movement thru said bottoms, in the manner that air rises in a chimney.

SpA potatp storage having a storage ioor and an irrigating floor under sai-d, storage floor, said irrigating floor sloping to a channel means formed therein; loosely arranged porous tiles disposed within said channel means in loose end to endv relationship;

storage floor being otherwise drai't tight to concentrate theV normal upward air movement thru said bottoms; substantially draft tight side walls for said bins, serving to increase the air movement thru saidy bottoms .likeair is caused to pass upwardly through a chimney and a vent conduit disposed thru the upper wall portion ot said storage to 'further increase the air movement thru said bins.

9. A potato storage comprising an earth enveloped structure having a storage room floor and an irrigating ltloor under same;

elevated bins for the potatoes, having ventilated bottoms in conjunction with said storage room floor thru which the atmosphere rises by natural draft action, said storage room loor being otherwise draft tight to concentratethe atmospheric movement thru said bottoms.

l0. A potato storage comprising an earth enveloped structure having porous walls thru which moisture absorbs to the atmosphere within the storage; elevated bins for the potatoes, having bottoms with openings thru which said atmosphere circulates by natural draft action, to prevent the potatoes thus stored from drying out; and a substantiallyL air tight floor extending between said bins to concentrate the natural draft action thru the bottoms of said bins.

11. A potato storage comprising an earth enveloped structure having porous walls thru which moisture absorbs to the atmosphere within the storage; elevated bins ior the potatoes, having slotted bottoms thru which said atmosphere circulates by natural draft action, to prevent the potatoes thus stored from. drying out; a substantially air tight Hoor extending between said bins to concen trate the natural draft action thru the bottoms ot' said bins; substantially draft tight side walls for said bins; and inverted channels extending thru said side walls to within said bins :tor inspection of said potatoesr f 12. A potato storage comprising an earth `enveloped structure having porous walls thru Which moisture absorbs to the atmosphere Within the storage; elevated bins for the potatoes, having Ventilating bottoms thru Which said atmosphere circulates by natural draft action, to prevent the potatoes thus stored from drying out; a substantially air tight floor extending between said bins to concentrate the natural dra-tt action thru the bottoms of said bins; substantially draft tight side Walls for said bins; invertedY Chan- 10 nels extending thru seid side Walls to Within seid bins ior inspection ot said potatoes; and means to close access to said channel.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand on this the 17 th day of February 15 i JAMES BALLARD KILLroN 

